Home Care Helps Seniors With Macular Degeneration Live Well At Home

Macular degeneration is a very common eye condition that affects millions of seniors. It can make it more difficult for seniors to continue to live independently. But with home care, many seniors can continue living in their homes if they want to.

Macular degeneration is an age-related eye condition. The chances of your senior parent developing macular degeneration increase as they get older. Some studies indicate that nearly 1in 3 seniors over the age of 70 will experience some amount of macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration can make it difficult for your parent to read prescription bottles or food labels, judge depth and distance, and do household chores. Home care can help your parent live safely and comfortably at home with macular degeneration.

 

How Home Care Helps Seniors Who Have Macular Degeneration

If your parent has macular degeneration, they are at a higher risk of falling at home because it affects their depth perception and field of vision. It also increases the chances that your parent will take the wrong dose of a medication or eat spoiled food.

A home care provider can help your senior parent be happy, safe, and healthy at home, even if they have macular degeneration, by doing things like:

 

Organizing medications and preventing mistakes

One important way a home care provider can help is by organizing medications. Seniors with macular degeneration may have trouble reading small print on pill bottles or instructions. This can make it easy to take the wrong medication or the wrong dose.

A caregiver can sort medications into a pill organizer for each day of the week. They can also read labels, check instructions, and remind the senior when it is time to take their medicine. If something looks confusing or different from usual, the caregiver can help double-check it.

 

Preparing simple, healthy meals

Cooking can be difficult for someone with limited central vision. It may be hard to read recipe instructions, measure ingredients, or safely handle hot pans and sharp utensils.

A home care provider can prepare meals or cook together with the senior. They can help chop ingredients, measure items, and make sure food is cooked safely. The caregiver can also make sure meals are balanced and nutritious.

 

Cleaning out the fridge and pantry

Seniors with vision problems may not be able to clearly see expiration dates on food packaging. Over time, expired or spoiled food can build up in the refrigerator or pantry. Your parent may not realize that the food is no longer safe to eat. If they try to eat it, they could get sick.

A home care provider can regularly check food items and remove anything that has expired from the fridge or pantry. They can also wipe down shelves, organize items so they are easy to find, and place newer foods where they are visible.

 

Taking out the trash and keeping the home tidy

Small household chores can become challenging for someone with macular degeneration. For example, it may be difficult to see spills, clutter, or items left on the floor.

Taking out the trash can be dangerous for your parent, who may not be able to see walkways clearly. They could trip or stumble and fall, taking bags of trash out to the garbage barrel or trying to pull the heavy cart to the street.

A caregiver can take out the trash, tidy up common areas, and make sure there are no hazards that your parent could trip on in the house

 

Running errands and helping with shopping

Shopping can be stressful for someone who has trouble seeing labels, prices, or signs in stores. A home care provider can help by running errands or accompanying the senior on shopping trips.

The caregiver might pick up groceries, medications, or household supplies. If the senior enjoys going out, they can shop together while the caregiver helps read labels and locate items.

 

Helping to organize the home for easier access

Another helpful task is organizing the home so that important items are easy to find. When someone has macular degeneration, searching for small objects can be frustrating.

A home care provider can help create simple systems. For example, they might keep medications in one clearly labeled spot, store commonly used kitchen items in the same drawer, or place frequently used objects in easy-to-reach locations.

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Jericho, NY, please contact the caring staff at Brookville Homecare today. 516-802-7722